FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Casablanca

Every year, numerous holidays are celebrated in Casablanca.
Below are the main dates for these festivities:

1 January New Year's Day (national)

For New Year's Eve (December 31 to January 1), Casablanca offers many evening entertainments with local food, spices, oriental music, and dance. The splendours of the Oriental night unfold in restaurants and nightclubs throughout this largest of Moroccan cities.

11 January Proclamation of Independence Day (national)

Casablanca hosts many festivities as Morocco celebrates the 1944 signing of the Proclamation, which symbolises the end of colonisation and the start of independence.

1 May Labour Day (national)

On this day, festive events are organised alongside traditional trade union marches in the city centre.

30 July Enthronement (national)

A day of national celebration commemorating the enthronement of King Mohammed VI. This holiday is marked by major festivities: parades, ceremonies, official speeches, fireworks…

14 August Oued Ed-Dahab Day (national)

This holiday marks the return of the Saharan provinces to Morocco in 1949. With great fanfare, hundreds of Sahrawi representatives mandated by the population of Oued Ed-Dahab (Rio de Oro), travel from the extreme southern province to pledge allegiance to the Moroccan king.

20 August Revolution of the King and the People (national)

A symbolic day recalling the deportation of King Mohammed V after his dismissal by the French authorities in 1953. Military parades, fireworks, and flags flying from windows everywhere… Moroccans celebrate, in a very festive manner, their love for their king.

21 August Youth Day (na-tional)

Moroccan youth is celebrated on the anniversary of the birth of King Mohammed VI. Performances, dances, happenings—Casablanca's children pour their hearts out on the streets of the city.

6 November Green March (national)

Inaugurated by Hassan II, this holiday commemorates the strategic march of 350,000 Moroccans in 1975 to the Spanish Sahara, to force Spain to hand over the province.

18 November Independence Day (national)

On this day of national celebration, Morocco celebrates its acquisition of statehood in 1955, and the end of its status as a French protectorate.

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CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Casablanca

Located in the northwest of Morocco and at the edge of the Atlantic, Casablanca has a mild oceanic climate: the differences between the seasons are not very marked and the climate is pleasant throughout the year. The ideal time to visit Casablanca is from May to October, when it is sunny and hot, but the sea air keeps the heat from being intolerable.

Month

Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)

Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)

Average Rains (MM)

Best Time to Travel

January

8

17

65

Not the best period to go

February

8

18

63

Not the best period to go

March

10

20

65

Not the best period to go

April

11

22

42

Not the best period to go

May

14

23

27

Good period to go

June

16

25

8

Good period to go

July

18

28

0

Good period to go

August

18

28

0

Good period to go

September

17

27

10

Good period to go

October

15

25

47

Good period to go

November

12

21

83

Not the best period to go

December

9

18

85

Not the best period to go

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The Mohammed V International Airport

The Mohammed V International Airport is located about 30 kilometres south of Casablanca.

3 terminals

T1

T2 (Air France)

T3

Travelling between the airport and Casablanca:

By car

The airport is accessible by car via the A7 motorway. Allow approximately 30 minutes to reach the city centre.

The airport has two car parks: one in the arrivals area; one in the departures area. The price is 5 MAD per hour.

Many car rental companies are located in the arrivals area.

Bus

The bus company CTM connects the airport to downtown in about an hour. They run every hour from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A ticket costs 20 MAD.

Taxi

Parked outside Terminal 1, white taxis take passengers to downtown Casablanca for between 250 and 300 MAD. The trip takes about 30 minutes.

Train

Trains run to the city centre from the railway station in the arrivals hall every hour between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., 7 days a week. The trip takes about 35 minutes and costs 40 MAD.

GETTING AROUND Casablanca

Traffic in Casablanca is often chaotic for cars, buses, and even pedestrians. The tram, which serves the main roads of the city, is the ideal way to explore.

Car

Tourists can use their driving licenses in Morocco. But beware: finding a place to park in the city centre can often be difficult. Expect to pay between 20 and 30 MAD per hour for a parking spot.

Bus

The M'Dina bus company has more than 45 bus lines in Casablanca.
Buses run from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. On average, there is a bus every 10 to 15 minutes.
You can buy your tickets directly on the bus for 5 MAD.

Tramway

naugurated in 2012, the Casablanca tramway is the safest and fastest way to get around the city. The 31-kilometre line connects the most important points of the city: universities, ONCF stations, historic centres and the Art Deco district, the business district, hospitals, and the Derb Ghallef shopping district.

Tickets are 6 MAD and on sale in kiosks and tram station distributors. The ticket allows you to make connections in the hour following the first validation. For more information on fares, schedules, and points of sale, visit the official website (www.casatramway.ma/, in French and Arabic only).

The tram runs from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., 7 days a week, every 5 to 15 minutes (depending on peak hours).

Taxi

In urban areas, the ‘little red taxis' are easily available: you can flag one down on the street. It is possible that other passengers will already be aboard: in Casablanca, taxi sharing is common. The price of a trip in the city is set by the meter (make sure it is switched on when you board). A city trip should not be more than 20 MAD. From 10:00 p.m., the price per kilometre is increased by 50%. The base price 3.50 MAD.

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Visitor information

Once you arrive in Casablanca, don't hesitate to get in touch with tourism professionals for information and help in organising your stay.

Medical information

Casablanca has a good medical infrastructure. Consulting a general practitioner costs between 100 and 150 MAD. A night in hospital costs approximately 800 MAD. If necessary, call SOS Médecins Casablanca +212 (0) 522 20 20 20. It is advisable to take out health insurance before your departure.

Vaccination

No vaccine is mandatory to stay in Casablanca. However, it is recommended that travellers be vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, and typhoid.

There are no particular food safety risks in Morocco. We recommend that you:

Carefully wash fruits and vegetables before eating;

Avoid raw foods.

Water

Casablanca tap water is potable.

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Administrative procedures

Entry requirements for Morocco

Most nationalities visiting Morocco do not require a visa and are allowed to stay in the country for 90 days, provided the individual has a valid passport (30 days for citizens of Hong Kong and Singapore).

However, some foreign nationals are subject to visa formalities before entering Morocco. To find out if you are one of those concerned, go to https://morocco.visahq.com/

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Essential phrases

Here are a few useful phrases in Moroccan Arabic for your stay in Casablanca.

Good morning: As-salam alaykom

Good evening: Msa l'khir

Good bye: Bislama

Yes: Naâm

No: La

No, thank you: La, choukran

Thank you very much: Choukran

I don't understand: Ma fhemtch

Could you repeat that?: hal tastatieun al'iieada

Please: Min fadlek

What time is it?: Chahèle raha saha ?

Excuse me?: Asif

Airport: Matâr

Train station: Mahatt

Taxi : Sayarat ojra

Hotel: Funduq

Hospital: Mustashfaa

Bank: Banka

Telephone: Hatif

I am (…): Ana

I'm looking for (…): Abhath

What is the price of (…)?: Chhal el-tamane

Do you have (…)?: Hal

Where can I find (…)?: Ayn Tajid

Where can I buy (…)?: Hayth lishira

I would like (…): Awadd

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Good to know

00 212

+ phone number

0 : 00
of time difference withDublin

Daylight Savings Time start date > 27 March

Daylight Savings Time end date > 30 October

Banks

Generally Monday to Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 or 4:00 p.m.

Government Offices

Generally Monday to Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 or 4:00 p.m.

Casablanca is equipped with 220 V and 50 Hz, with Euro-pean standard plugs.

TIPPING

In Morocco, the tip is not included in the bill. It is therefore customary to leave a 10 to 15% tip. As salaries are relatively low, tipping the hotel's housekeeping staff (maids, porters, etc.) is an appreciated gesture.